VA - Mellow Mellow - Original 1970s Smooth Grooves & Chilled Breaks (2000)

AMG review: What ties these 12 soul/funk gems from the '70s together, apart from stylistic and periodic similarities? First and foremost, the feel of each song is reflected in the disc's title, which obviously takes its name from the first selection here, Lowrell's "Mellow Mellow Right On." Second, this disc comes with a sticker affixed to it that proclaims, "Original sources for Massive Attack, A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, Mary J. Blige, Portishead, and more." Mellow Mellow, like any good compilation or mix tape of smooth '70s soul, acts as an elixir, siphoning the tension from your body and mind. Adequate space is reserved for crate-digger favorite Roy Ayers, who is behind three of the songs here. RAMP's "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" (a revisit of the title track from Ayers' 1976 album of the same name) has especially proved to be an endless font for R&B and rap producers, having its chorus nicked, appropriated, and revamped countless times. The live version of Kool & the Gang's "Summer Madness" exemplifies the disc as well as any other, gliding through eight minutes of weightless bliss. The liner notes mention Pete Rock and Coolio, but you're just as likely to recall the song's unforgettable synth line from "Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. From the songs to the sound quality and down to the packaging, this is one fine compilation. Extensive liner notes detail the historical background behind each song, as well as pointing out the artists who have used their contents for their own material. In reality, you don't really want this disc in order to get an education in sampling sources. That might be the label's marketing strategy, but you truly want this because it's an ideal backdrop for a lazy, hot, sunshine-filled Saturday. (Other notable inclusions: Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine," Barry White's "I'm Playing Your Game, Baby," Quincy Jones' "Summer in the City," Curtis Mayfield's "Tripping Out," and the Fatback Band's "Feed Me Your Love.")